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The Knife Rack THE KNIFE RACK 1 2 KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW ■ JULY 2014 ■ www.kitchenwarenews.com BY LORRIE BAUMANN Gunter Wilhelm knives are made from X50CrMoV15 high- carbon stainless German steel with a patented triple-tang handle design in 17 different sizes and shapes that represent a fusion of Asian and European styles. "We take the best of both worlds and fuse them together to make something that makes sense for our culture," says David Malek from Gunter Wilhelm. Gunter Wilhelm was founded in 2002 by Paul Hellman, who partnered with Malek in 2009. The blades are made of a heavy steel made in Germany by Thyssen Krupp with the weight to aid in chopping but perfect balance, even in the 10- inch knives. The metal allows for a long lasting edge, durable construction, stain and rust resistance and ease of care and maintenance. It's not dishwasher-safe, so like all fine knives, the Gunter Wilhelm cutlery should be hand washed and dried immediately after washing. Blades have 22-degree edges for both the classic chef knives and Santoku styles, so they're Gunter Wilhelm Knives Designed for ease of ownership easy to sharpen at home with standard knife sharpeners. "Most people will not feel the difference in the kitchen, but they'll feel it when they sharpen it," Malek says. Santoku blades in the Executive Chef Series have hollow-ground ovals for easier food release; classic chefs knives do not. Gunter Wilhelm knives all come with a lifetime warranty. Handles are triple-tang with pakka wood, which is being phased out in favor of ABS, which performs better in wet conditions. ABS is the same material used to make LEGO blocks and the housings for many kitchen appliances, and although in its raw state, it's a translucent or white color, the handles of the Gunter Wilhelm knives will be colored with a wood grain look that took a year and a half to get just right, Malek says. There's a color that looks just like the more traditional rose shade of pakka wood and one that's black with a subtle russet wood grain, and both are elegant. The knives are sold in both open stock and in sets, and Gunter Wilhelm has given particular attention to its wooden knife block, which has a stand that angles the knives for easy grasping. A smaller block that holds steak knives is built so that it can either stand independently or hook onto the front of the parent block to create a single unit for an especially elegant look on the counter top. Retail price for the 7-inch chef knives or Santoku is around $79. For further information, visit gunterwilhelm.com. Curtis Stone's newest cutting boards, which debuted at the March IH+HS in Chicago, are designed to make kitchen prep more simple, efficient, and enjoyable. Made of eco-sustainable bamboo, Curtis Stone boards won't harm knife edges and their clean lines complement any kitchen. The Workbench cutting and storage board is made with three-ply construction and has two BPA-f ree Tritan™ drawers for storage and waste. With a large working surface measuring 23 by 14 inches, the Workbench is designed for quick and easy food prep. Cut foods can be transferred to any of the six f resh-lock containers with airtight silicone lids, several of which neatly fit flush into a recessed cutout in the top of the board so that you can scrape prepped ingredients directly into them. Food scraps can be moved easily and hygienically into the waste disposal drawer through a hole in the board to keep cooking preparations clean and professional. The Flipper cutting board is like two boards in one. Designed to prevent cross- Curtis Stone Cutting boards Help Home Cooks Prep like Pros contamination, the cutting surface sits in a sturdy, non-slip f rame that allows users to switch from cutting raw meat or seafood to veggies with one simple flip. Measuring 18 by 14 inches, the board is large enough to prep food easily, but small enough to fit in compact spaces. The f rame keeps the cutting surface f rom coming into contact with the counter, acting as a further safeguard against contamination. The Workbench and Flipper cutting boards will both be available to ship this August, and are priced at $199.99 MAP and $79.99 MAP respectively. For further information, contact Roland at sales@rolandinc.com or 1.800.321.2226. Edge of Belgravia officially launches its new knife block, Black Diamond. Black Diamond is a unique, angular float knife block. Christian Bird's design is faithful to Edge of Belgravia's avant-garde hallmark. Futuristic in conception, it brings to mind the angles of a rough cut diamond, while its architectural quality reflects the finely angled handles of Edge of Belgravia's signature range of knives for chefs. Clever use of weighting secures the knives in their slots, and slight angling allows for easy extraction. With its unique design, Black Diamond is intended as a piece of art for the kitchen, but it's also practical in that it's easy to clean and it will hold 11 knives, even though it looks complete on the countertop if it's holding only a couple. Clever use of weighting secures the knives in their blocks, just as slight angling allows for easy extraction. Black Diamond retails for around $120. For more information, visit www.edgeofbelgravia.co.uk. edge of belgravia launches black Diamond: A Unique Knife block

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